The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-01-29
Democratic Reformers.


1t must not be supposed that all
the enterprising, progressive farmers
in Maryland are Democrats. We sup.
pose that the agricultural population
is about equally divided between the
two parties. By some strange coincid-
ent, however, it happened that a num-
Der of the best knownDemocrats in the
State were delegates to the Farmers
Convention in Baltimore on the 18th
inst. and attended Democratic mass
meeting at Oratorio Hall in the even
ing. To outsiders It will always be
question whether it was the agricul-
tural convention or the Democratic
mass meeting that brought these
farmer politicians to Baltimore,
Ex-Gov. VIM. T. Hamilton was
the most distinguished farmer, and,
probably, the most distinguished
Democrat, who attended the two
meetings. His speech in Oratorio
Hall ought TO be printed in pamphlet
form and copy sent to every farmer
in the State. Not that it contains
anything about the practical art of
farming, but it shows that agricul-
ture, and all the other great indus
tries of the State, are suffering
Through the mistakes, errors and
wrongs in executive administration
the vices, faults and omissions in leg.
islatIon the rage for Office; the au.
tocratic distribution of it, where, as
general rule, neither merit, character,
nor capacity are virtues to commend
but mainly where personal objects
can be subseryed the arrongance and
tyranny of usurping leadership the
monopoly of patronage; the corrup-
tons in elections and in Office and
their degration to the basest personal
ambitions"
In making this formidable arraign-
ment, Gov. Hamilton takes pains to
to say that he does not refer to The
Republican party; it is the managers
OF the Democratic party in Mary
land, the so-calIed "bosses," whom
he charges with these high crimes
against the public welfare. He takes
up Comptroller Turner's report, and
shows that there has been wasteful
expenditure of the peoples money
for objects of no public utility.
The pay of the officers, and men,
who compose the oyster police force,
exceeds the whole revenue from
dredgers' licenses, and all the other
expenses of the so-called oyster
navy" are direct charge upon the
treasury. The five State tobacco
arehouses do not yield enough to
pay the salaries of the officers and cur
rent expenses. The sum of S73,
was received for inspections last year,
but the additional sum of Sc, 467 had
to be drawn from the treasury to
square up accounts.
AS the representative of the honest
farmers, Gov. Hamilton vigorously
attacks the policy pursued by the
financial officers of the State in re-
funding the bonded debt instead of
paying it off as it natures. The
effect of this policy is to increase taxa
ton and Cypress industry. Gov.
Hamilton also has something to say
about the wrecking of the canal and
this portion of his speech ought to be
read by every honest Democrat in
connection with the recently publish
ed annual report of the President of
the Canal Company.
What will be the outcome of this
vigorous, manly protest against the
rule of the "bosses." and the policy
which they have fastened upon the
executive and legislative department
of the State government? When the
"bosses" nominate their candidate
for Governor next fall, will the hon
est Democratic FARMERS" vote for
him? When they have carefully
selected their candidates for the Leg
islature in three.fourths of the coun-
ties of the State, will these Demo.
cratic FARMERS" fall into line and
support the regular ticket? Gov.
Hamilton lays down the broad prop.
osition that "fraud binds no one in
business or politics. Does he mean
to give notice that he will oppose
candidate for Governor who secured
his nomination through the fraudu-
lent work of the Baltimore pri.
maries? We wait for an answer
Hdgersto,on Herald.